5 Useful Tips to Minimize Your Cat's Scratching Habit

Something that cats love to do the most is scratching! When they go out, they scratch wooden poles, fences, trees and when they are indoors, they love to scratch carpet, sofa, wallpapers, curtains etc. It is because of these habits of cats, many of the pet owners who are already frustrated of seeing scratches all over their furniture and decor items, are considering declawing their kitties.

Removing Those Dangerous Claws!

It is important to know that removals of claws is an extremely procedure for cats; not to mention an unfair one. It is their nature to scratch and for your convenience, you should not really try to change them. These kinds of procedures not only cause physical but also psychological trauma to the cats.

Why Do Cats Scratch A Lot?

In order to find a solution for this problem, you should first try to understand why your kitty likes scratching so much. People believe that by scratching, the cats sharpen and clean their claws. And, that's not entirely true; it is also one of their ways of marking territories or leaving marks on surfaces.

Besides marking her own territory, sharpening and cleaning her claws, for cats scratching is also a great physical exercise. It normally includes climbing, balancing and stretching. These activities are very important for a health survival of cats. That is why it is not a good to declaw your or punish her every time she scratches.

Give Them Scratching Posts

A better option would be to purchase a scratching post and teach her about how to use it. It will take a few days, but gradually your would realize that playing and scratching with the posts is more fun than ruining your decor or home furniture. You should try different kinds of tricks to draw your cat's attention to these posts.

As a owner, you should know that cats enjoy playing so consider buying a post with dangling toys; toys would be even better. If the post doesn't come with such attachments, consider adding a couple of them yourself.

This way, the will quickly understand the perks of fooling around near the scratching post. Make sure that the post you've purchased is big enough and sturdy. Cats do not enjoy scratching things that are not stable as they don't help them in proper scratching.

Try Other Furniture like Scratching Tree or Just a Condo

Besides the normal posts, you can also purchase other furniture items like inclined scratchers, condos, gyms, trees etc. These items can be easily purchased online or at some local pet furniture store. They will give hours of fun and entertainment to your beloved kitty. Such furniture come with a number of features like perches, sisal poles, comfortable beds, toys, and many other attractive features.

Before You Buy!

Before paying for a scratcher, make sure its size is right for placing it at some spacious location inside your house and the color and model of the scratching post goes with the feel of your houses' interior. Remember that cats are very tidy animals and hate being around dirty things, leave alone playing with them. So make sure the post or other furniture are regularly cleaned and well maintained.

Petar Petrov owns an online retail shop of furniture for different needs of cats. Through his blogs, Petar also shares tips and insights about how to take care of the cats and kitties and their different needs, and educates the owners how to purchase Cat Scratching Posts, and condos etc. For more details visit: http://www.cozycatfurniture.com/cat_scratching_posts.html

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

5 Useful Tips to Minimize Your Cat's Scratching Habit

Something that cats love to do the most is scratching! When they go out, they scratch wooden poles, fences, trees and when they are indoors, they love to scratch carpet, sofa, wallpapers, curtains etc. It is because of these habits of cats, many of the pet owners who are already frustrated of seeing scratches all over their furniture and decor items, are considering declawing their kitties.

Removing Those Dangerous Claws!

It is important to know that removals of claws is an extremely procedure for cats; not to mention an unfair one. It is their nature to scratch and for your convenience, you should not really try to change them. These kinds of procedures not only cause physical but also psychological trauma to the cats.

Why Do Cats Scratch A Lot?

In order to find a solution for this problem, you should first try to understand why your kitty likes scratching so much. People believe that by scratching, the cats sharpen and clean their claws. And, that's not entirely true; it is also one of their ways of marking territories or leaving marks on surfaces.

Besides marking her own territory, sharpening and cleaning her claws, for cats scratching is also a great physical exercise. It normally includes climbing, balancing and stretching. These activities are very important for a health survival of cats. That is why it is not a good to declaw your or punish her every time she scratches.

Give Them Scratching Posts

A better option would be to purchase a scratching post and teach her about how to use it. It will take a few days, but gradually your would realize that playing and scratching with the posts is more fun than ruining your decor or home furniture. You should try different kinds of tricks to draw your cat's attention to these posts.

As a owner, you should know that cats enjoy playing so consider buying a post with dangling toys; toys would be even better. If the post doesn't come with such attachments, consider adding a couple of them yourself.

This way, the will quickly understand the perks of fooling around near the scratching post. Make sure that the post you've purchased is big enough and sturdy. Cats do not enjoy scratching things that are not stable as they don't help them in proper scratching.

Try Other Furniture like Scratching Tree or Just a Condo

Besides the normal posts, you can also purchase other furniture items like inclined scratchers, condos, gyms, trees etc. These items can be easily purchased online or at some local pet furniture store. They will give hours of fun and entertainment to your beloved kitty. Such furniture come with a number of features like perches, sisal poles, comfortable beds, toys, and many other attractive features.

Before You Buy!

Before paying for a scratcher, make sure its size is right for placing it at some spacious location inside your house and the color and model of the scratching post goes with the feel of your houses' interior. Remember that cats are very tidy animals and hate being around dirty things, leave alone playing with them. So make sure the post or other furniture are regularly cleaned and well maintained.

Petar Petrov owns an online retail shop of furniture for different needs of cats. Through his blogs, Petar also shares tips and insights about how to take care of the cats and kitties and their different needs, and educates the owners how to purchase Cat Scratching Posts, and condos etc. For more details visit: http://www.cozycatfurniture.com/cat_scratching_posts.html

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Six Suggestions to Prevent Cats From Scratching Furniture

Scratching is a fundamental feline activity. There is no way to live with cats and not deal with scratching in some form. The trick is to prevent cats from scratching furniture and redirect their attentions to where it's OK to scratch.

1. The first thing to stop cats scratching furniture is providing at least one scratching post, several would be better. Cats like stretch and scratch after sleeping or after meals. It makes sense for a scratching post to be near the cat's food bowls. Cat trees provide for a number of feline activities at the same time. Cats can scratch and climb them rest on them and even use them as observation posts.

2. It can also help to reduce the cat's need to scratch by keeping the claw tips trimmed. After all one of the reasons cats need to scratch is to get rid of excessively long claw tips.

3. Keeping them entertained is another way to prevent cats from scratching furniture. Boredom and lack of exercise can lead to frustration and silly ideas which is often taken out on the furniture. Actively playing with the cat promotes the bonding process, and the cat gets rid of excess energy. Creating a comfortable spot near a window can provide mental stimulation for when the human is absent.

4. Yet another trick to prevent cats from scratching furniture is to change the texture of the item. Usually cats decide what to scratch based on how it feels under the paws. Taking that away can be very effective. Double-sided tape as well as silver or plastic foils can be used for the purpose. But this method is only recommended with cats the don't chew or even eat non-edible things. Where this is a problem citrus or eucalyptus oils can be applied to the endangered objects. Such oils are non-toxic, but they will keep most cats at a distance. (Tea tree oil must be avoided!)

5. When they're caught in the act, one can stop cats scratching furniture with a direct squirt of water or a shout. But cats are smart. This will not deter them in the human's absence.

6. A new invention, soft vinyl claw caps, can help cat owners in their effort to prevent cats from scratching furniture. Many happy customers testify to the effectiveness of this method. Though it should be considered that a cat's personality can play a role in the success.

Declawing:

Some readers may wonder why declawing surgery isn't listed as a recommended method to prevent cats from scratching furniture. Here is why:

Declawing surgery can't be compared to a manicure because a cat's claws are more than nails are to a human. The surgery itself is major, with a long and painful recovery period, as claws are direct extensions of the bone. Declawing in fact amputates the last joint of a cat's toe.

While recovering form the surgery a cat would have no alternative to the continued use of its injured paws. There would be great danger of blood poisoning from digging in the litter box, not to mention excruciating pain. Cats are very sensitive to pain, just as all their senses are very keen, even though they disguise it as much as possible.

Claws are an important part of a cat's anatomy. Amputation severely changes the paws' conformation. Both that and being without the primary defense mechanism, its claws, would cause a cat to be at a major disadvantage when facing rivals or predators.

It has been reported that a cat's personality changes after being declawed due to the surgically imposed limitations. Sadly not all professionals recognize this further side effect.

This brief overview should adequately illustrate why it is an inhumane choice. Notably, it's also illegal in many countries, and where it isn't many vets refuse to perform it.

A genuine cat lover would not resort to mutilation for the sake of their furniture. Admittedly, valuable antiques should be protected. Or people may just be a lot more house-proud than the author of this article.

Keeping valuable items in cat free rooms and using one or several of the above suggestions will bring the desired result.

If all these solutions are not enough to reassure some people that they can prevent cats from scratching furniture, there are still ways to interact with cats and do them good. Most people have at least some friends with cats. It's very enjoyable to make friends with one's friends' cats. Sponsoring cats with reputable charities is another great way to help felines in need and keep one's furniture safe.

This article was written by Amy L Watson. She is a lifelong cat lover that currently lives with her husband and three cats. They also maintain the informative website http://www.solvecatproblems.com/prevent-cats-from-scratching-furniture/

Please visit Solve Cat Problems for more information on cat care and training.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_L_Watson

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Dog Scratching and Itching

Grass Allergies

Have you ever seen your dog driven crazy by an itch? The dog scratches and licks itself. It walks around, and then sits down to scratch some more. Eventually the dog may scratch itself so much that it gets open sores from all this scratching, yet the dog still can not seem to stop.

Grass Allergies

Why would your dog be doing this? Simple. When you feel an itch, you scratch it. When your dog itches, it does the same thing. The real question should be what might be causing your dog to itch?

Grass Allergies

Here are some of the most common possibilities:

Grass Allergies

- Your dog may have environmental dermatitis (which as the name suggests is a condition which is caused by environmental factors) or skin allergies. These conditions are particularly likely if your dog is fond of romping and playing outside, as well as dipping in holes and rolling on grass.

- Your dog may be suffering from infectious dermatitis, or excessive itching caused by bacterial and fungal infections. Lesions will occur on your dog's skin which the dog will continuously lick and scratch because it is causing so much discomfort.

- Your dog may be suffering from parasitic dermatitis. This is caused by tics, fleas and other parasites that live on your dog's skin. Be sure to bathe your dog frequently with anti-flea soap to prevent this.

- Inadequate nutrition can also cause itching. Always using quality dog food to feed your dog should prevent this.

Whatever the cause of the itching, it is a sign that something is wrong. If your dog keeps scratching itself, your best recourse is taking it to the vet for a thorough checkup, and getting the appropriate course of treatment.

Dog Scratching and Itching

Grass Allergies

reade more... Résuméabuiyad